The Legend of the Christmas Candle

Many traditions use stories to teach great spiritual truths. Here, on Sundays, some of these stories will be re-told. They can be understood by adults & children. Where possible I will suggest a children's picture book that teaches the same or similar story.

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Many years ago a cobbler and his wife lived in a cottage at the end of a village in Finland. They had few possessions, but whatever they owned they shared with others. Symbolic of their generous love of humankind was the lighted candle they placed in the window of their cottage.

Through the years, war, famine and destruction fell upon the village. Yet the cobbler and his wife suffered far less than the other villagers.

'There is something special about them. They are often spared from our misfortunes,' said the villagers. 'Let us put candles in our windows and see if this is the mysterious charm.'

Now it happened that the night the first candle was lit in every home, was Christmas Eve and before the first rays of the morning sun appeared, a messenger rode into the village to bring the great news - Peace has come! That Christmas Day there was awe in the hearts of the humble villagers.

The beautiful custom of placing a lighted candle in the window on Christmas Eve is being observed throughout Scandinavia until today, sending forth a message of love, hope and joy.

Comments

The Legend of the Christmas Candle

Many traditions use stories to teach great spiritual truths. Here, on Sundays, some of these stories will be re-told. They can be understood by adults & children. Where possible I will suggest a children's picture book that teaches the same or similar story.

*** *** ***

Many years ago a cobbler and his wife lived in a cottage at the end of a village in Finland. They had few possessions, but whatever they owned they shared with others. Symbolic of their generous love of humankind was the lighted candle they placed in the window of their cottage.

Through the years, war, famine and destruction fell upon the village. Yet the cobbler and his wife suffered far less than the other villagers.

'There is something special about them. They are often spared from our misfortunes,' said the villagers. 'Let us put candles in our windows and see if this is the mysterious charm.'

Now it happened that the night the first candle was lit in every home, was Christmas Eve and before the first rays of the morning sun appeared, a messenger rode into the village to bring the great news - Peace has come! That Christmas Day there was awe in the hearts of the humble villagers.

The beautiful custom of placing a lighted candle in the window on Christmas Eve is being observed throughout Scandinavia until today, sending forth a message of love, hope and joy.

Welcome

Hello, my name is Katie Jane
Hinshelwood. Here you will find a little bit of my story. I also hope to share a ray of yogic
light on parenting and caretaking of children's spiritual development.

I facilitate a conscious parenting group called Obaitori. It is an all-embracing collective of women who support each other in 'sharing the struggle' belonging together and not living in 'isolated perfection'.

I’m really happy you are here. Please feel free to wander around & have a look.

You are very welcome.

Inspiration

Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. Follow the stream, have faith in its course. It will go its own way, meandering here, trickling there. It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices. Just follow it. Never let it out of your sight. It will take you. ~ Sheng-yen ~

Simplify your life, purify your heart. Slay egoism & pride, cultivate cosmic LOVE, practise SELF DISCIPLINE. Serve ALL. LOVE ALL. Hear, reflect, meditate. Enquire & know YOURSELF. Live the Eternal. There is only one language the language of the heart. There is only one law, the law of cause & effect. There is only one religion the religion of LOVE.
~ Swami Sivananda Saraswati ~

Obaitori on Instagram

Book Shop

I often link to resources that I and my family personally use and recommend. I participate in Amazon associates program and if you enter Amazon.com through my blog and then make a purchase, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. One hundred percent of these proceeds keeps me in ink and teabags. I will never recommend a product or resource for the sole purpose of being compensated financially. I hope you enjoy and benefit from this collection of meaningful titles.